Roof ridge ventilator



Fe%. 14, 1967 5.. L. SMlTH ETAL 3,3@3,?73

ROOF RIDGE VENTILATOR Filed Feb. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORSLESTER L.SMITH QIQANK E. RANDALL Feb. 14, 1967 L. L. SMITH ETAL3,393,773

ROOF RIDGE VENTILATOR Filed Feb. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSLESTER L.SMITH iQANK E. QANDALL United States Patent O 3,303,773 ROOFRIDGE VENTILATOR Lester L. Smith, Peoria, Ill. (PO. Box 68, Princeville,Ill. 61559), and Frank E. Randall, Peoria, 111.; said Randall assignorto said Smith Filed Feb. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 433,759 9 Claims. (CI.98-42) This invention relates to roof ridge ventilators, and moreparticularly to such ventilator which are made of a plurality of readilyfabricated parts and adapted to both low cost production and ease andrapidity of installation.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a roof ridgeventilator having a flashing plate adapted to be secured to a buildingroof and which serves as a mounting for retaining the rest of theventilator in place.

As another object, this invention has within its purview the provisionof a roof ridge ventilator including an anchor part which is readily andeasily securable in place on a roof and which has thereon means to whichthe rest of the ventilator is quickly and easily attachable.

This invention additionally comprehends the provisions of a plural partridge ventilator embodying parts which promote ease of manufacture,mounting and assembly, and which, when installed and assembled, haveventilating effectiveness comparable to a unitary structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an installation of apreferred embodiment of the roof ridge ventilator of this inventionmounted on a roof, which view depicts an exemplary and typicalinstallation embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a preferredembodiment of our roof ridge ventilator, wherein the section is takensubstantially as indicated by lines 22 in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the ventilator shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and illustrating the manner of application of theventilator to a roof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the ventilator illustratedin FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified part of oneelement of the ventilator structure herein disclosed.

In the exemplary embodiments of this invention which are shown in theaccompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, a roof ridge ventilatoris mounted on, and extends along the ridge of a roof 12 of a building13. Such ventilators are often, but not always, used in conjunction withsoflit ventilators to provide for ventilation or circulation of airthrough the space in a building which is immediately below the roof. Inorder to provide for ease and speed of installation, thereby to minimizethe installation labor cost, the ventilator 10 of this application ismade in two parts, which parts are a flashing plate 14 and air vent part15. These two parts are adapted to quick and ready assembly after theflashing plate 14 is secured to the roof 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a conventional roof has rafters 16 whichextend laterally of the roof and are adjoined at the roof ridge. Roofingboards 17 extend longitudinally of the roof, across the rafters 16, andat the ridge of the roof a space 18 is provided between the roofingboards which serves as an air passage to the space below the roof andwhich is covered by the roof ridge ventilator 10. Shingles 19 aresecured to the exterior surface of the roofing boards 17 and cover thoseboards from end to end of the roof and from the lateral edges of theroof to positions near the opening 18.

In the disclosed structure, the flashing plate 14 has side portions 20and 22 in obtuse angular relationship to one another and which conformto the angularity of the two sides of the roof 12. This flashing plate,as shown in FIG. 4, has a series of open slots 23 therein, which slotsextend longitudinally mid-region of the flashing plate on both sides ofthe roof ridge line and from positions near the ends thereof. Connectingwebs desirably extend across the slots at positions conformingsubstantially to the spacing of rafters to afford reinforcement to thestructure. This flashing plate 14 is secured to the top surface of theroof by fastening means, such as nails 24, at spaced positionstherealong, and so that the ridge line thereof coincides with that ofthe roof. In this position, the slots 23 in the flashing platecommunicate with the space 18 between the roofing boards to provide forthe flow of air through the ventilator from the space below the roof. Atthe opposite outer extremities of the flashing plate, flanges 25 and 26extend upwardly therefrom to provide bafiies which influence the flow ofair to and from the ventilator. In the disclosed structure, the bafflesare integral with the flashing plate and each baflie has an upper flangeportion 27 which extends outwardly in obtuse angular relationship to therest of the baffle and extends along the top margin thereof.

In order to provide for the releasable and rapid securement of the airvent part 15 of the ventilator to the flashing plate and to retain thoseparts of the ventilator in assembled relationship in an installation,flanges 28 and 29 are provided on opposite sides of the flashing plate,outwardly of the slots 23 and inwardly of the flanges 25 and 26, whichflanges 28 and 29 extend longitudinally of the flashing plate insubstantially parallel relationship to one another. The flanges 28 and29 have lower surfaces which are spaced from the upper surface of theflashing plate and are generally parallel thereto.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention which is shown in FIGS. 3and 4, the flanges 28 and 29 are integrally formed in the flashingplate. In the form illustrated, portions 30 and 32 of the material ofthe flashing plate which extend longitudinally of the plate and arespaced between the slots 23 and the flanges 25 and 26 are foldedtogether to provide a double thickness of the flashing plate materialprojecting transversely of the general planes of the flashing plate, andthis double thickness of material is formed by bending to provide theoppositely and outwardly projecting flanges 28 and 29.

In the form illustrated in FIG. 5, the structure of the flashing plateis modified by the securement of the formed strips 33 and 34 to theupper surfaces of opposite sides of the flashing plate by fasteningmeans, such as rivets or spot welds 35 to provide outwardly andoppositely projecting flanges 36 and 37. The strips 33 and 34 are formedso that the general planes of the flanges 36 and 37 are offset from thegeneral planes of the rest of the strips, whereupon the flanges 36 and37 are normally in spaced and opposed relationship to the upper surfacesof the flashing plate.

Both the flashing plate 14 and the air vent part 15 are made to besymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal central plane, which plane,when the ventilator is installed, coincides with the ridge line of theroof. In the disclosed structure, the air vent part 15 of the ventilatorhas top cover portions 38 and 39 in obtuse angular relationship to oneanother on the opposite sides of the aforementioned central plane. Onopposite sides of the air vent part, side walls 49 and 42 are adjoinedto the outer extremities of the top cover portions 38 and 39respectively and extend downwardly therefrom. Panels 43 and 44 areadjoined to, and extend inwardly from the lower ends of the side wallsand 42. The panels 43 and 44, on opposite sides of the air vent part 15,are in spaced and opposed relationship to the top cover portions 38 and39 respectively. The lower side walls and 46 are adjoined to and extenddownwardly from the inner extremities of the panels 43 and 44. Theselower side walls 45 and 46 are in spaced and opposed reationship to oneanother and define a throat for the passage of air through theventilator. The top cover portions, panels and side walls constitute atop portion of the air vent part, while a base portion of the air ventpart is provided by flashing elements 47 and 48 which are adjoining toand extend outwardly from the lower side walls 45 and 46 in obtuseangular relationship to one another. Along the outer extremities of theflashing elements 47 and 48, return bent flanges 49 and 50 areintegrally formed thereon to interfit with the flanges 28 and 29 to forma releasable and weather tight connection between the air vent part andthe flashing plate and to hold the air vent part in position on theflashing plate when installed.

Each of the panels 43 and 44 has vent openings 52 therein to provide forthe passage of air to or from the ventilator, thereby affordingcommunication for the flow of air between the inside and outside of thebuilding. In the disclosed structure, the vent openings are arranged inrows extending laterally of the ventilator panels and such rows areadjacent one another longitudinally of the ventilator. Each of the ventopenings 52 has a louver 53 extending thercover to provide protectionfrom the passage of snow or rain into the ventilator from the outside.To be most effective for their intended purpose, the louvers areintegrally formed from the material of the panels and on each side ofthe ventilator, the louvers extend upwardly and laterally outwardly ofthe ventilator.

As may be readily understood with respect to the structure of theventilator as thus far described, the flashing plate 14 is first securedto a shingled roof, so that the slot 23 therein is aligned with thespace 18 between roofing boards and so that the flashing plate issymmetrically disposed with respect to the ridge line of the roof. Eachflashing plate may be flexed sufliciently to conform to the pitch of theroof upon which it is mounted, without altering the assembly orrelationships of the parts of the ventilator. After the flashing plateis secured in place, the air vent part or parts of the ventilator aremounted thereon by either effecting engagement of the respectivemounting flanges at end portions thereof, and then sliding the air ventpart along the flashing plate until it is in a desired position, or byflexing the air vent parts sufficiently to spread the base portions toeflect engagement between the respective mounting flanges.

When a plurality of lengths of flashing plates are required to extendthe full length of a roof, adjacent flashing plates may be secured inposition by abutting adjacent ends of the flashing plates and securingthose abutted ends in position and to the roof by nails. When, however,a plurality of lengths of the air vent part are required to extend thefull length of a roof, a plug 54 of a relatively flexible material, suchas a suitable plastic, is fitted into the ends of adjacent air ventparts which are to be adjoined together in abutted relationship, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The plug 54 conforms to the interior contour ofthe air vent ports and has side flanges 55 and 56 thereon which extendoutwardly between the flashing elements 47 and 48 of the air vent partand the opposite sides of the flashing plate. Such plugs are also usedto close the ends of a ventilator adjacent the ends of a building.

Then, to afford additional protection and assurance against leakage, acap 57 is placed over the abutted ends of adjacent air vent parts andextends for a short distance on each side of the butt joint. This cap57, as shown in FIG. 3, has top cover portions 58 and 59, side wallportions 60 and 62 and panel portions 63 and 64 which flt snugly overand engage the top cover portions 38 and 39, the side walls 40 and 42and the panels 43 and 44 respec- :tively of the air vent part. Such capsmay be put onto the air vent parts of the ventilator from one end andslid on the ventilator until the desired position is reached.

From the foregoing description and by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, it may be understood that by the structure disclosed herein,we have provided a roof ridge ventilator which is adapted to fabricationin two parts and which is readily mountable on a roof by securing theflashing plate in position on the roof and then attaching thereto theair vent part. It may also be readily understood that the disclosureembodies weather tight joints and has parts constructed and arranged toafford adequate ventilation with good weather protection.

While we have illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention,trnany modifications may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, and we do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsof construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of all changeswithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A roof ridge ventilator comprising, in combination, a flashing platehaving integrally connected generally planar side portions in angularrelationship to one another and having a segmented vent slot extendinglongitudinally of the mid-region thereof, retaining means extendinglongitudinally of the lateral mid-regions of the upper surfaces of saidgenerally planar side portions of the flashing plate on opposite sidesof the vent slot, an air vent part having top and base portions, saidtop portion having vent openings therein at positions providing weatherprotection, and said base portion including generally planar baseflanges of a width to overlie portions of said flashing plate onopposite sides of said vent slot and projecting angularly away from oneanother, said base flanges having thereon returnbent marginal portionswhich co-act with said retaining means releasably to hold the air ventpart in place on the flashing plate with said vent openings incommunication with said vent slot.

2. A roof ridge ventilator as defined in claim 1 and wherein saidretaining means is integrally formed in the lateral mid-region of eachof the side portions of the flashing plate.

3. A roof ridge ventilator as defined in claim .1 and wherein saidretaining means comprises formed strip-type elements having laterallydisplaced portions in planes offset from one another and secured to thelateral mid-regions of opposite side portions of the flashing plate.

4. A roof ridge ventilator as defined in claim 1 and wherein saidretaining means includes lips projecting in opposite directions atpositions spaced above the mid-regions of the side portions of theflashing plate, said means on the base portion of the air vent partincluding lips spaced below opposite sides of the base portion andprojecting oppositely to those on the flashing plate, and said lips onthe air vent part and the flashing plate releasably engaging inoverlapping relationship.

5. A roof ridge ventilator for mounting on a roof having an open slotextending along the ridge thereof and comprising, in combination, aflashing plate having laterally adjoined and generally planar sideportions in obtuse angular relationship to one another for securement tothe roof on opposite sides of the ridge and slot and having openings inthe mid-region thereof aligned with the open slot in the roof for theflow of air t-herethrough, a weather protected ventilating part havinglaterally opposed halves resiliently separable from predeterminedrelative positions and including generally planar bottom mountingflanges for mounting on the flashing plate in partially overlappingrelationship thereto and with said ventilating part over said openingand in air-flow communication therewith, and interfitting meansextending along the flashing plate at positions laterally outward ofsaid openings and along the outer margins of the bottom mounting flangeson the ven- 5 tilating part providing weather-tight releasableconnections between said flashing plate and said ventilating part andnormally biased by the resilience of said ventilating part for retainingthe ventilating part in place on the flashing plate.

6. A roof ridge ventilator as defined in claim 5 and wherein saidintenfitting means comprises portions of channel section which extendalong opposite side regions of the ventilating part and flashing plateand have planar flange portions which engage and overlap one another.

7. A roof ridge ventilator as defined in claim 5, and wherein saidinterfitting means comprises flanges projecting laterally outwardly overportions of the upper surface of the lateral mid-regions of the sideportions of said flashing plate on opposite sides of said opening, andflanges projecting laterally inwardly of opposite sides of said bottommounting flanges of said ventilating part and resiliently biased topositions for engagement in overlapping relationship with said flangeson the flashing plate.

8. In a roof rid-ge ventilator, a flashing plate comprising a length ofsheet material having connected generally planar side portions in obtuseangular relationship to one another, an opening extending longitudinallyof the midregion of the sheet material and partially in each sideportion thereof for the passage of air, and means including flangeelements laterally outward of the opening in each side portion andclosely adjacent the general plane thereof for effecting attachment of aweather protected ventilating part to the flashing plate.

9. In a roof ridge ventilator, a top air vent part for use with aseparate flashing plate and having top and base portions and apredetermined sectional shape which is symmetrical about a longitudinalcentral plane with segments on opposite sides of said central planeresiliently adjoined and biased to predetermined relative positions fromwhich said base portions are movable away from one another against saidresilient bias, said top portion of the air vent part having ventopenings therein on opposite sides of said central plane at positionssheltered from falling rain and snow, and said base portion havingopposed in-turned flanges extending longitudinally of opposite sidemargins thereof and urged to predetermined positions of separation bysaid bias for holding said top air vent part in place on the flashingplate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MEYER PERLIN,Primary Examiner.

1. A ROOF RIDGE VENTILATOR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FLASHING PLATEHAVING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED GENERALLY PLANAR SIDE PORTIONS IN ANGULARRELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER AND HAVING A SEGMENTED VENT SLOT EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY OF THE MID-REGION THEREOF, RETAINING MEANS EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY OF THE LATERAL MID-REGIONS OF THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAIDGENERALLY PLANAR SIDE PORTIONS OF THE FLASHING PLATE ON OPPOSITE SIDESOF THE VENT SLOT, AN AIR VENT PART HAVING TOP AND BASE PORTIONS, SAIDTOP PORTION HAVING VENT OPENINGS THEREIN AT POSITIONS PROVIDING WEATHERPROTECTION, AND SAID BASE PORTION INCLUDING GENERALLY PLANAR BASEFLANGES OF A WIDTH TO OVERLIE PORTIONS OF SAID FLASHING PLATE ONOPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID VENT SLOT AND PROJECTING ANGULARLY AWAY FROM ONEANOTHER, SAID BASE FLANGES HAVING THEREON RETURNBENT MARGINAL PORTIONSWHICH CO-ACT WITH SAID RETAINING MEANS RELEASABLY TO HOLD THE AIR VENTPART IN PLACE ON THE FLASHING PLATE WITH SAID VENT OPENINGS INCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID VENT SLOT.